Defence minister says all targets neutralised as ISPR reports heavy terrorist losses
Khawaja Asif addressing media about Yesterday’s Balochistan attacks. Photo: Youtube(PTV)
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday said Pakistan’s findings show that “all the linkages point towards India” in the recent attacks across Balochistan that were claimed by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
On Saturday, terrorists carried out a series of coordinated attacks at multiple locations in the province. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces killed 92 terrorists, while 18 civilians were martyred. The military said that during clearance operations and intense standoffs, “15 brave sons of soil, having fought gallantly, made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced martyrdom.”
The BLA claimed responsibility for the attacks in a social media post, describing them as the second phase of “Operation Heroof.” The government has designated the BLA and other Baloch groups as “Fitna al Hindustan”, alleging they are acting as proxies of India to destabilise Pakistan through hybrid warfare. Officials say the BLA’s suicide wing, the Majeed Brigade, has developed links with other anti-Pakistan terrorist outfits operating out of Afghanistan.
Security sources also claimed that Indian media outlets and India-linked social media accounts amplified support for Fitna al Hindustan during the attacks, which they described as part of a coordinated hostile information campaign.
Speaking to reporters in his hometown of Sialkot, Asif said the BLA “is an internationally recognised terrorist organisation and banned internationally,” adding that it seeks to maintain its visibility “to get foreign funding by India.” He said the group had carried out attacks on civilians, including kidnappings of civilians and government employees.
Read: 92 terrorists killed, 15 security personnel martyred as attacks foiled across Balochistan: ISPR
He alleged that the outfit had tried to mask its activities by adopting a human rights posture. “They have also worn a veil in the form of human rights activism, a kind of costume in the shape of BYC and the missing persons’ narrative,” he said.
Recalling his earlier tenure as defence minister, Asif said he had stated eight years ago that many individuals described as missing persons were in fact members of terrorist organisations such as the BLA. “They are agents of these terrorist organisations who attack our offices and homes,” he said. According to Asif, when such individuals are killed, they are identified as terrorists, while a “false narrative” is created around missing persons.
He claimed some of them were alive and living in Dubai or Muscat, while their relatives received allowances, adding that “a human rights narrative has been created out of nothing to get attention of the world.”
Asif further alleged that terrorist groups were now using women and children. “Now they are using kids and women as well. In two attacks yesterday, women were used,” he said, claiming they were being indoctrinated. He added that a failed female suicide bomber who was captured had confessed, and said the groups targeted unemployed, poor and working-class individuals.
Commenting on the security response, Asif said all targets were neutralised. He stated that 11 security officials were martyred, while more than 100 terrorists were killed, adding that the number could rise.
Outlining what he described as the state’s broader objective, Asif said Pakistan aimed to ensure peace across all provinces and defeat foreign intervention, including what he termed involvement through Afghanistan in the form of the BLA and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “We have been fighting on many fronts, but we will defeat all forms of terrorism in the country and no concessions will be made,” he said, calling for national solidarity.
He said multiple locations were targeted a day earlier, including Quetta’s Sariab Road, the Frontier Corps headquarters in Noshki and areas in Dalbandin, with attacks reported at 12 locations.
Asif said Balochistan’s vast geography and sparse population had allowed terrorists space to operate, but claimed this advantage would be removed in the coming days. He said the operation, which he referred to as “Herof 2.0,” ended due to poor planning, forcing the attackers to retreat and leave behind bodies. He also alleged that handlers based in Afghanistan were using children to advance their agenda.
Turning to international issues, Asif said additional Epstein files had been released and claimed Indian media was defending Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Modi’s another face has come out,” he said, adding that India’s Congress party had made allegations regarding Modi’s conduct linked to Israel. He further claimed that Modi’s role had emerged following the release of the Epstein files and said, “Nobody can go as low as what Israel and India have been up to.”
